Weekly e-pistle 12/10/2015

December 10, 2015 This Sunday, December 13th   3rd Sunday of Advent Holy Communion - 10 AM   All are welcome to receive Communion! The presence of the Lord "in your midst" in the wonder of the holy supper is cause for singing.  The nearness of the Lord in prayer, in every circumstances, is cause for rejoicing. The coming of one "more powerful" than John, even with his winnowing fork in his hand, is good news - and cause for exultation - for us who are being saved.  Great joy is the tone for the third Sunday of Advent. Sunday's Readings:    Zephaniah 3:14-20        Psalmody-Isaiah 12:2-6     Philippians 4:4-7       Luke 3:7-18 Sunday's chancel flowers: are given to the glory of God by Karen Lundgren in memory of Karl & Verna (parents) and Janet Lundgren Fasbinder (Sister)  Happening Around St. Paul's Congregation Meeting Reconvenes Sunday, December 13th, Following Worship. Last Sunday's meeting was suspended to allow the finance committee time to craft a budget, using suggestions from the congregation. The meeting will reconvene immediately following worship on December 13th, at which time the congregation will consider next year's budget. The Giving Tree:  You are invited to take an ornament off the Giving Tree, which is located on the bulletin board in the entrance to the fellowship hall. Each ornament represents a gift for an elderly Vallejo resident.  After purchasing the gift you have chosen, please wrap it, use the gift tag provided and place it in the box below the tree. Be sure to indicate Male | Female and size on the gift tag.   All gifts must be at church by December 20th.  If you have any questions check with Anita Patten. Christmas Caroling & Cookie Tasting Party - Saturday December 19th Fruitvale Healthcare Center,Oakland -  Meet at St. Paul's at noon to carpool.  We will join other volunteers of the Lutheran Ministry to bring cheer to the residence and staff at the Fruitvale Healthcare Center.  Bring some cookies to share.  Home-baked or purchased (soft cookies and no nuts please).  We are also collecting warm socks.  Place your donated socks in the box in the entrance of the fellowship hall. Bring your poinsettias on December 20th  - Each Christmas our sanctuary is made more beautiful by the lovely poinsettias decorating the chancel area.  You are invited to donate one or more poinsettias for our Christmas decorating on December 20th.  Please bring your poinsettia donation December 20th before or after Sunday worship. Fellowship Coffee Hour - We are lightening up on the food our hosts offer during Coffee Hour when there is no special event going on.  Our intention will be to offer a simple snack, such as cookies, cheese/crackers, and fruit, to accompany our time together as a community of faith. Brown Bag Meal Ministry  Remember the hungry on street corners and elsewhere by having a Brown Bag Meal handy in your car to offer these folks.  The bags are available for pick-up at church, along with envelopes to donate the $4.00 it costs to fill a bag.  The donation, however, is optional.  Please record your name, the date, and number of bags you take.  Give generously and joyfully! The Coming Week at St. Paul's: Sunday, December 13 3rd Sunday of Advent St. Lucy of Syracuse (died 304) 10:00 a.m. 11:45 a.m. Eucharist Congregation Meeting Monday, December 14 John of the cross, renewer of the church (died 1591) Wednesday, December 16 7:00 p.m. CODA Thursday, December 17 Saturday, December 19                 Sunday, December 20 4th Sunday of Advent 10:00 a.m. 11:45 a.m. Eucharist Tree Decorating Serving God on Sunday, December 13th    Presiding Minister  The Reverend Pamela Griffith Pond Assisting Minister  Teresa Arellano Crucifer  Dean Alberg Lector  Jody Schumacher Ushers John Patten & Trainee ;) Organist & Pianist Marian Smock Flowers  Karen Lundgren Fellowship Hosts  Theresa Arellano & Karen Spears Christ's Care List Healing of body, mind and spirit: Vera Bennett  Bill Blaylock (Relative of Pr. Pamela)  Sandra Burroughs (Don Johnson's sister)  Cassie Bremer (Jessica Nelson's daughter)  Mary Brown (Joseph White's colleague)    Cathleen Cardoza (Relative of Pr. Pamela)   Kathy Campas-Sutin  Marty Clark    Margaret Cole  Wayne (Vera Bennett's friend)  Carleen Embree  Dee Fix   Harold Fix  Helen Gainey (Vera Bennett's friend)   Shirley Gonsalves  Dorothy Griffith (Pr. Pamela's mother)   Palmer Hagestrom (Friend of Pr. Pamela)  Bessie Hawkins (Vera Bennett's friend)  Sheldon Heitz  Anna Hervey  Donald Hervey  Sam Hervey  Phyllis Huseby (Jody Schumacher's aunt)  Jan Jackson  Pr. Karen and Dave Johnson (Pr. Pamela's colleague and her husband)  Gladys Jones (Kathy Campas-Sutin's Mother)  Louisa Johnson  Cassy Kapsalis (friend of Judy Faye)  Caryl Kroan  Rick Kroan  Loree Lucas  Carol Massie (friend of Valda Rose)   Raul Matasol (friend of Pr. Pamela & Dave Pond)   Pr. Larry Nelson (John Patten's friend)  Luna Nightshade   Nikkie (Vera Bennett's goddaughter)  Pr. Jennifer Obermueller (Pr. Pamela's colleague)  Jeanine Pai (Marian Smock's niece)  Anita Patten  Dean Pollock (Jody Schumacher's brother)  Justin Pollock (Jody Schumacher's great nephew)  Alissa Princewell  Gary Schumacher  Angelika Shanley  Angela Smith (Bev Smith's daughter)  Pr. John Sumwalt (Pr. Pamela's colleague)  Mike Tomlinson (Teresa Arellano's brother)  Schiann Towle (Lisa & Dwayne Olson's daughter)  Bill & Betty Valentine (Vera Bennett's friends)  Steve West (Don & Louisa Johnson's friend)       Those who grieve:    The family of Dorothy Warner  Marian Smock and other family of her sister, Frances Wieber  The family of Mary Heitz  Our pastoral call process and each member of the call committee:  Judy Faye, Chair  Vicki Pyle, Secretary  Frank Gonsalves  Don Ockrassa  Jessica Nelson         We also pray for:    Safety in our community - An end to racism and other injustice   A just and lasting peace in the Holy Land  Refugees   Those serving in the armed forces   St. Paul's Lutheran Church The Reverend Pamela Griffith Pond, Interim Pastor 415.847.8030 (cell) pastorpamela@live.com 1300 Tuolumne Street Vallejo, California 94590

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